Julius a



(No Nudel.)

J. A. DALUMI.

SIGN. v No.' 532,032. Patented Jan. 8, 1895.

HG2. Ha.

lll/messes UNITED STATES PATENT rtree.

JULIUS A. DALUMI, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,032, dated January 8, 1895.

Application filed May 31,1894. Serial No. 512,937. (No model.)

To @E whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUs A. DALUMI, of N ew York city, New York, have invented an Improved Sign, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a sign provided with changeable lettering which may be set in a simple and rapid manner.

The sign consists of a plate composed of differently colored sections, and of lids hinged thereto, and having correspondingly colored backs and faces. When the lids are swung in one direction, they will correspond in color tothe main body of the background and blend therewith, but when swung inthe other direction, they together with the exposed part of the background, will forni the lettering. Thus by changing the position of the lids, the lettering of the sign may be readily changed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is an elevation of my sign. Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical sections on line 4, 4, Fig. l, showing thelids respectivelylowered and raised. Fig. 4 is a perspective view ofnpart of the sign; Fig. 5, a cross section through the sign and its operating mechanism. Figs. G, 7, 8 and 9 show modiiied constructions ol the lid.

The letter e, represents the back plate of a sign provided with dark stripes or sections c that alternate with light stripes or sections c2. To the backplate ci, are hinged between each pair of stripes, the lids h, having a dark back and a light face, or vice versa, and corresponding in height to the width of a single stripe. When a lid is folded up, its dark back will cover and conceal a correspondingly sized section of the upper dark stripe c', while a white square will be formed by the exposed white face of the lid and the exposed section of the lower light stripe c?. On the other hand, if the lid is folded down, a dark square will be formed in asimilar manner by the dark stripe ct', and the exposed dark back of the lid. Thus it will be seen that by simplyfolding the lids up or down, light or dark squares may be formt-zd, equal in size to double the size of the lid, andin this way any desired lettering may he produced upon the sign board in a most simple manner.

The lids b, may be operated in various ways. I have shown them provided with strings c, passing through perforations a, of the sign board and Wound around a common drum c", which when revolved, will simultaneously draw up all the lids. To release and drop the lids, I employ for each lid an electric button d, the wires d', of which lead to an electro magnet cl2. The armature of the electromagnet is provided with a catch d3, engaging a catch d, of the lid Zi. By operating the proper buttons, the corresponding lids will be rapidly released and dropped to formany letterin g desired, as will be readily understood.

In Fig. 6, I have shown a light letter to be formed on a dark background. The electric releasing, mechanism is omitted, and the lids are dropped by coiled springs e, encircling their pivots e.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9, l have shown respectively triangular, semicircular and oblong lids b, adapted to fold over correspondingly shaped sectionsf of the background. The principle that by revolving a lid, a correspondingly colored and shaped section of the sign board is exposed, and a similar section is concealed, remains the same.

What I claim isl. A sign composed of a variegated backplate and of lids pivoted thereto between the sections, and adapted to conceal alternate sections and to blend with the exposed sections, to form a compound letter, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of a backplate having diierently colored sections with pivoted lids having differently colored sides, and with a drum and strings that connectthe drum to the lids, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of a backplate having differently colored sections with pivoted lids having differently colored sides, an electrically operated hook engaging the lids, and a drum to which the lids are connected, substantially as specitied.

.IULIUS A. DALUMI. Witnesses: Y

F. v. Bnrnsniv,

WILLrAM SCHULZ. 

